148 TRAVELS IN 
prowefs, each more wonderful than another, 
were related, offered alio to accompany me ; 
and, by the air of confidence wuh which he 
prefented himfelf, feemed perfuaded that I 
ought to efteem myfelf happy in having, with 
me a hero of io extraordinary m.erit. 1 ven- 
tured, however, to thank him ; and my readers 
may judge for themfelves whether I was wrong 
in refufing him, when I inform them that, 
having had the misfortune to meet him on my 
>vay, he had nearly occafioned the death of m.y 
old Swanepoel. 
I was, however, tempted to make an ex- 
ception in favour of a yoimg furgeon, who 
was extremely pr effing in his entreaties. The 
talents of a man of his |;rofeffion might, in 
cafe of need, have become particularly ufeful 
both to me and my caravan. Befides, being 
obliged to have an intercourfe with the favage 
tribes among whom I was about to travel, I 
fiiould have it in my pov/er to adminifter to 
them aGiftaccej by which I fhould increafe to- 
wards me their good-will and affedion : nor 
eould I refled without pain on that unfortu- 
nateGonaqua man, whom I had feen in his hut^ 
abandoned to the moft dreadful torture, with- 
out 
